The San Antonio Spurs have gone from an 0-2 start to a nine-game heater, and Victor Wembanyama has been at the center of every bit of it.
He’s piled up numbers that jump off the page and barely feel real: 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks against Dallas in the Spurs’ sixth straight win, then 30 points and 14 rebounds against Sacramento, 29 points against Portland, and most recently 40 points, 11 rebounds and nine blocks in just 25 minutes against Phoenix as San Antonio stretched the streak to nine. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is making a loud case for back-to-back honors.
Wembanyama says the work behind it is just as important as the highlights. “The thing your body won't forgive you for is if you go through a range you've never been before,” Wembanyama said, per San Antonio Express-News reporter Tom Orsborn, “but I've trained my ankles. They've been through these ranges before, so it's not new.”
He hasn’t carried this run alone. Dylan Harper has helped shoulder the offense when Wembanyama sits, De’Aaron Fox has fit smoothly as the pick-and-roll partner, Stephon Castle has been ready for whatever role the night requires, and Devin Vassell has continued to serve as the steadying force. Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson and Luke Kornet have also delivered when called on, while Carter Bryant made the most of extended run against the Suns with eight points in 14 minutes.
That kind of depth is part of why the Spurs have looked so hard to slow down. “The depth is our strength,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.
“We have a lot of really good players and ... groups and combinations that can play together. It will be a strength for us throughout the season.”
San Antonio gets another chance to show it Wednesday night in Chicago, where the 1-8 Bulls are trying to sort themselves out. A win would push the Spurs to 10 straight and give them a 10-2 start, which would mean two consecutive seasons with a streak of at least 10 games. San Antonio won 11 in a row twice last season.
Chicago’s young roster has had a rough opening to the year, but rookie Caleb Wilson has been a bright spot. The No. 4 overall pick has quickly become one of the Bulls’ key offensive pieces, bringing energy, athleticism and scoring. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey have also taken on bigger jobs, with Buzelis adding versatility and Giddey helping move the offense and create for others.
Norman Powell has given the Bulls an experienced scoring option, though he is QUESTIONABLE with a shoulder injury. Former Spur Zach Collins is also questionable with an illness, and Nic Claxton is still working back from a hamstring injury after being brought in to help shore up the interior.
The Spurs have injury questions of their own. Devin Vassell is QUESTIONABLE, while Tobias Harris remains OUT and has yet to make his debut. Vassell has been a major part of San Antonio’s surge, so his status matters, but the Spurs have shown they can keep rolling with different combinations.
They’ll need that same focus in Chicago. It’s the kind of game where a strong record can tempt a team into overlooking what a young, desperate opponent can do. San Antonio has handled the early season with maturity and discipline, and that approach will be tested again before the road trip ends.
A victory would send the Spurs back home riding a 10-game winning streak, with the Golden State Warriors waiting next. Steph Curry and the Warriors have won eight straight, and Friday’s matchup could say plenty about where both teams stand.
The Spurs entered the season with big expectations after their loss in the Finals, and they admitted they were “too amped” in the opening-night loss to Oklahoma City. They also fell to Houston. Since then, they haven’t lost again.
“We're playing the right way, we're playing with and for each other, this is the basketball I like,” Victor Wembanyama said.
Early in the season, San Antonio has made its point. The West may have to go through the Spurs.
In Other News...
Bulls Suddenly Have A Norman Powell Problem They Can't Ignore
Norman Powells availability has quickly become a talking point for a Bulls team that could use every bit of offensive stability it can get. He was ruled out of the game against the San Antonio Spurs because of lower back spasms, a setback that came after he had been giving Chicago solid production early in the season and helping to anchor the scoring load.
Head coach Tiago Splitter said Powell is currently at 70% health, which leaves the Bulls in a wait-and-see spot as they move toward the next game. Powell has appeared in eight games this season, averaging 19.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, and Chicago will be watching closely to see how quickly he can get back to full speed. [Read more 🡒]
Leonard Miller Is Facing A Bulls Test Fans Didn't Expect
Leonard Miller arrived in Chicago with some intrigue after the Bulls acquired him from Minnesota, and his first full season with the team has already become a small but telling subplot in a rough start. He flashed enough last season and again in the preseason to make you think there might be a real role here, but the regular season has been a different animal, with Miller still trying to find his footing as the Bulls grind through a 1-8 start.
For a team already searching for answers, Millers development matters because Chicago is not just looking for help right now, it is trying to build something sturdier for later. He has said the focus is on improving his game and helping the Bulls future success, and that makes every stretch of inconsistency feel a little more important than it would on a healthier roster with a clearer direction. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Face A Caleb Wilson Concern They Couldnt Afford
A night that already carried some concern for Caleb Wilson took an even shakier turn against the Spurs, when Chicagos top scorer was forced out in the third quarter after appearing to have a hand issue. Wilson was seen holding his hand before heading to the trainers room, and the Bulls later announced he would not return, a frustrating development for a team that can ill afford to lose its most productive option.
Wilson had already been on the injury report before tipoff because of right hip soreness, so the hand problem only added to the uncertainty around his status. For Chicago, the bigger worry now is not just how long he might be sidelined, but how quickly the Bulls can absorb another hit if one of their most important offensive pieces is compromised. [Read more 🡒]